Fluidic comparator system

ABSTRACT

The present disclosure relates to an impacting stream modulator having a pair of opposing nozzles which terminate in aligned and opposed stream forming orifices in a reference chamber. A plurality of output nozzles terminate in output orifices disposed to the opposite sides of the line of the impacting streams. The relative strength of the two supply streams determines the impact point and the direction of the output streams relative to the output nozzles which collect the fluid from the impacting streams and provide an output related to the comparison of the relative strength of the two streams.

United States Patent lnvcntors Bjorn G. Bjomsen Milwaukee; Thomas J. Lechner, Menomonee Falls, both of, Wis. Appl. No 734,437 Filed June 4, I968 Patented June l, 1971 Assignee Johnson Service Company Milwaukee, Wis.

FLUlDlC COMPARATOR SYSTEM [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,272,2l5 9/l966 Bjornsen etal. 137/815 3,285,263 1 H1966 Bjornsen et al 137/8 1 .5

Primary ExaminerWilliam R. Cline Arrorney- Andrus. Sceales, Starke & Sawall ABSTRACT: The present disclosure relates to an impacting stream modulator having a pair of opposing nozzles which terminate in aligned and opposed stream forming orifices in a reference chamber. A plurality of output nozzles terminate in output orifices disposed to the opposite sides of the line of the impacting streams. The relative strength of the two supply streams determines the impact point and the direction of the output streams relative to the output nozzles which collect the fluid from the impacting streams and provide an output related to the comparison of the relative strength of the two streams.

FLUID LOADS PATENTED JUN 1 19m FLUID LOADS FIG-2 ma KSN c mmw J N E wwL W W 3 GS A F M DH 0 JH BT Y B Attorneys lFlLUllDIC COMPARATOR SYSTEM This invention relates to a fluidic amplifying system and particularly to such a system producing fluid output signals in accordance with the relative strengths of a pair of impacting fluid streams.

Fluid control and operating systems have recently been suggested wherein the system operates with essentially pure fluid control amplifying'devices. An unusually satisfactory fluidic control means is shown in Bjornsen et al. U.S. Pat. 3,272,215 which issued Sept. 13, 1966. As disclosed therein, the position and output flow from a pair of opposed and impacting streams is sensitive to therelative pressures of the two streams, and thus an output signal can be derived by controlling the relative impacting streams.

The present invention is particularly directed to employing an impacting stream modulator or jet device to produce a comparative output of the strength of the two streams with respect to particularly disposed output orifices or collector means. Generally in accordance with the present invention, a pair of opposing nozzles terminates in stream forming orifices within a reference chamber. A plurality of output nozzles terminate in output orifices disposed to the opposite sides of the line of the impacting streams to define a plurality of output receiving means. The 'relative strength of the two supply streams determines the impact point and the direction of the output streams relative to the output nozzles which collect the fluid from the impacting streams. The system permits comparison of the relative strength of the two streams and the sensitivity of the system readily'adapts the modulator to convert analog signals to binary-type signals. One or both of the input streams may be connected to an analog control fluid device and the plurality of output. nozzles connected to suitable digital devices such as the lock-on type fluid amplifiers.

The drawing furnished herewith illustrates an embodiment of the invention incorporating the above advantages and features as well as others which will be readily understood from the following description.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of an impact modulator and constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged vertical section through the modulator shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view similar to FIG. 2 showing a modified embodiment of the invention.

Referring to the drawing and particularly to FIG. 1, the illustrated embodiment of the present invention includes a jet modulator 1 having a pair of stream supply lines 2 and 3 and a pair of output lines 4 and 5. The stream supply lines 2 and 3 are connected to fluid input signal sources 6 and 7 and establish an output at one or the other of the output lines 4 and 5 in accordance with the relative momentum or strength of the two input streams.

The sources 6 and 7 to the input lines 2 and 3 may include a fluid strength control and preferably a pure fluid analog signal device or the like; for example, an impact modulating device such as disclosed in the previously referred to Bjornsen et al. patent or a three-terminal amplifier shown in US. Pat. No. 3,279,489 to Bjomsen et al.

The output lines 4 and 5 are shown connected to suitable loads 8 and 9 which may be a recording device, a switching device, or pure fluid digital device. The sources and loads are shown in block diagram and identified respectively including pure fluid analog signal devices and as pure fluid digital devices for the subsequent description.

The direct impinging jet modulator 1 shown in the illustrated embodiment of the invention, and as most clearly shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, includes a baseplate 10 and a correspondingly configured cover plate 11 interconnected in stacked fluidtight relation. The inner face of the baseplate 10 is formed with a plurality of passageways suitably formed therein as by milling which are closed by the cover plate 11 to define two-dimensional flow paths, as follows. A reference or interaction chamber 12 is formed by a cutout portion extending laterally through the plate 11. The reference chamber 12 expands from a relatively small central portion outwardly in FIG. 2. A first or main stream input orifice 13 is integrally formed as a terminal portion of a generally teardrop-shaped nozzle 14. A laterally extending opening connects the nozzle 14 to the one power supply line 2. An opposed second orifice 15 and a generally similar second nozzle 16 are formed in the face of the plate in aligned spaced relation to orifice 13 and a lateral opening or port connects the second nozzle 16 to the second power stream supply line 3. The second nozzle 16 is of a somewhat greater elongated configuration and the orifice 15 is shown as being somewhat smaller than orifice 13. With pressurized fluid supplied via the lines'2 and 3, a pair of impacting streams 17 and 18 is established within the reference chamber 12. Output streams 19 and 20 are defined to the opposite side of the line through the main stream. The output streams 19 and 20 flow laterally outwardly and, in the illustrated embodiment of the invention, angularly toward the nozzle 16. The angle of the output streams l9 and 20 and the direction is directly controlled by the relative strength of the two impacting streams 17 and 18.

A pair of similar output chambers or channels 21 and 22 is formed in the plate. The first output chamber 21 encircles the second nozzle 16 and terminates in a pair of output orifices 23 and 24, one to either side of the center of common imaginary line through the main stream orifices 13 and 15 to receive the output flow of the output streams 19 and 20 when the angular relationship of the latter aligns them with the corresponding related output orifices.

The second output chamber or channel 22 is similarly formed in the plate 10 outwardly of the first channel 21 and the second supply nozzle 16. The second output channel 22 terminates in a pair of similar orifices 25 and 26 spaced laterally outwardly of and generally in alignment with the supply orifice 15 and the other two output orifices 23 and 24 in the embodiment of FIG. 2.. The second channel is connected by a pair of outlet openings or ports to the second output line 5.

If the relative pressures of the streams 17 and 18 emitted by the supply nozzles 14 and 16 are at a selected level, the output streams 19 and 20 are angularly deflected with respect to the center flow line to the immediately adjacent output orifices 23 and 24. If the strength of the stream 18 of the second nozzle 16 is increased or that of the first nozzle 4 decreased, the impact position and the flow angle of the output streams 19 and 20 change such that the output streams 19 and 20 move from the first output orifices 23 and 24 to the second output orifices 25 and 26. Where the invention is applied to actuate digital devices 8 and 9 the presence and absence of output flow is related to the binary logic bits 0 and 1. Thus, with the output streams 19 and 20 applied to the first output orifices 23 and 24, the output line registers a binary logic 1 whereas with the output flow removed therefrom, a binary logic 0 is registered. In moving from the first output to the second output channel, the logic output of the second output line changes from a binary logic 0 to a binary logic 1.

In the operation of the illustrated embodiment of the invention, pure fluid analog signals from the sources 6 and/or 7 connected to the input supply lines 2 and 3 establish correspondingly related streams 17 and 18 which are converted into binary fluid signals at the output lines 4 and 5 by the impact modulator and applied to the pure fluid digital devices 8 and 9. The impact modulator 1 thus fonns a momentum comparator for comparing the strength or momentums of the two streams 17 and 18. The output orifices of channels 21 and 22 are located on opposite sides of the imaginary line or axis of the main streams 17 and 18 and terminate the two input streams, which form the output stream, as digital signals or other control signals. I

In FIG. 3, a modification to the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is illustrated. Corresponding elements are similarly numbered for simplicity of explanation. The reference chamber 12 and particularly the wall adjacent the output channels 21 and 22 is formed with a concave configuration to locate the output orifices of channels 21 and 22 in a plane angularly oriented with respect to the flow line between the two supply orifices 13 and 15. Further, the supply orifices l3 and have an essentially similar diameter in contrast to the different diameters illustrated in FIG. 2.

The output orifices 23 and 24 are therefore located immediately laterally outwardly of and forwardly of the second supply orifice 15. The second output orifices 25 and 26 are similarly located outwardly and forwardly of the first output orifices 23 and 24.

The embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 3 functions in the same manner as that of FIG. 2 and no further descrip tion thereof is given.

The present invention thus provides a pure fluid comparator element for comparing the momentum of a pair of opposed streams and for converting analog signals to digital signals.

Various modes of carrying out the invention are contemplated as being within the scope of the following claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which is regarded as the invention.

We claim:

I. A pure fluid momentum comparator comprising:

a chamber means having a pair of opposed confining walls defining a two-dimensional stream passageway between a pair of nozzle walls and referencing passageway extending outwardly of said passageway means,

first fluid conductor means in a first of said nozzle walls symmetrical about an axis for producing a first jet stream between said confining walls in said passageway,

second fluid conductor means in a second of said nozzle walls symmetrical about an axis for producing a second jet stream in said passageway,

input means extending through said walls to said conductor means,

said first means axis and said second means axis positioned along a common imaginary line through said passageway and said first means and said second means being located a short distance from each other so said jet streams impinge on one another and deflect one another and establish angularly oriented deflected streams on opposite sides of said line, said deflected streams moving toward one of said conductor means, and

third means including a first pair of angularly oriented orifice means positioned on opposite sides of said imaginary line and each extending angularly of said line and toward said one of said conductor means and a first passageway means extended about said one of said conductor means and interconnected to said orifice means to define a common terminating means for receiving said deflected jet streams positioned on opposite sides of said imaginary line and terminating said streams as fluid signals.

2. A device according to claim I wherein said first means and said second means comprise nozzles.

3. A device according to claim 1 wherein said third means includes a pair of apertures, said apertures being set back from and positioned on opposite sides of said imaginary line to act in concert with one another to receive said deflected fluid.

4. The pure fluid momentum comparator of claim 1 wherein said third means includes a second pair of orifice means positioned on opposite sides of said imaginary line outwardly of the first pair of orifice means and interconnected to define a second signal terminating means.

5. The pure fluid momentum comparator of claim 4, wherein said first and second pair of orifice means are correspondingly angularly oriented with respect to said first and second jet streams, and said second pair of orifice means is positioned axially forwardly of said first pair of orifice means.

6. The pure fluid momentum comparator of claim 4 wherein said first and second pair of orifice means are in a common plane with the corresponding conductor means. 

1. A pure fluid momentum comparator comprising: a chamber means having a pair of opposed confining walls defining a two-dimensional stream passageway between a pair of nozzle walls and referencing passageway extending outwardly of said passageway means, first fluid conductor means in a first of said nozzle walls symmetrical about an axis for producing a first jet stream between said confining walls in said passageway, second fluid conductor means in a second of said nozzle walls symmetrical about an axis for producing a second jet stream in said passageway, input means extending through said walls to said conductor means, said first means axis and said second means axis positioned along a common imaginary line through said passageway and said first means and said second means being located a short distance from each other so said jet streams impinge on one another and deflect one another and establish angularly oriented deflected streams on opposite sides of said line, said deflected streams moving toward one of said conductor means, and third means including a first pair of angularly oriented orifice means positioned on opposite sides of said imaginary line and each extending angularly of said line and toward said one of said conductor means and a first passageway meAns extended about said one of said conductor means and interconnected to said orifice means to define a common terminating means for receiving said deflected jet streams positioned on opposite sides of said imaginary line and terminating said streams as fluid signals.
 2. A device according to claim 1 wherein said first means and said second means comprise nozzles.
 3. A device according to claim 1 wherein said third means includes a pair of apertures, said apertures being set back from and positioned on opposite sides of said imaginary line to act in concert with one another to receive said deflected fluid.
 4. The pure fluid momentum comparator of claim 1 wherein said third means includes a second pair of orifice means positioned on opposite sides of said imaginary line outwardly of the first pair of orifice means and interconnected to define a second signal terminating means.
 5. The pure fluid momentum comparator of claim 4, wherein said first and second pair of orifice means are correspondingly angularly oriented with respect to said first and second jet streams, and said second pair of orifice means is positioned axially forwardly of said first pair of orifice means.
 6. The pure fluid momentum comparator of claim 4 wherein said first and second pair of orifice means are in a common plane with the corresponding conductor means. 